Doctoral Dissertation Research: Culturally Influenced Environmental Narratives

这个博士论文研究改进项目将研究使用叙事形式，以更好地沟通美国原住民和农村社区之间的环境。这些社区很可能是最容易受到气候多变性和环境变化的社会和生态影响的群体。了解不同群体如何理解和传播环境知识，可以为风险人群开发更强大、更适合文化的传播工具。作为博士论文研究改进奖，该项目将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个独立的研究生涯。学生将通过开发新的方法，更好地沟通和翻译复杂的科学问题，以不同的文化群体的地理科学的进步作出贡献。该项目的研究结果将对公共政策，公共健康和可持续发展产生影响。博士生将使用混合方法来研究环境知识如何以不同的方式传播，感知和沟通。具体而言，本研究探讨（1）文化如何塑造环境感知;（2）叙事形式如何以及是否可以作为一种有效的科学传播工具，在美国原住民和传统的农村社区。通过与当地阿巴拉契亚和阿拉斯加的文化和科学组织合作，博士生将通过多方面的方法收集数据，包括参与当地文化活动的观察，关键的线人访谈，档案研究，包括历史环境数据和口述历史收集，以及实验参与式研讨会。这项研究将为不同文化群体的环境科学交流提供新的见解，对改善人类健康和福祉具有重要意义。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This doctoral dissertation research improvement project will examine the use of narrative forms to better communicate about the environment among Native American and rural communities in the US. These communities are likely to be among the most vulnerable to the social and ecological impacts of climate variability and environmental change. Understanding how environmental knowledge is perceived and communicated by different groups can lead to the development of stronger, more culturally appropriate, communication tools for at risk populations. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this project will provide support to enable a promising student to establish an independent research career. The student will contribute to the advancement of geographical science by developing novel methods for better communicating and translating complex science problems to different cultural groups. The findings of this project will have implications for public policy, public health, and sustainability.The doctoral student will use a mixed methods approach to examine how environmental knowledge is disseminated, perceived, and communicated in distinct ways. Specifically, this research examines (1) how culture shapes environmental perception; and (2) how and whether narrative forms can be used as an effective science communication tool in Native American and traditional rural communities. Through collaborations with local Appalachian and Alaskan cultural and scientific organizations, the doctoral student will collect data through a multi-faceted approach including participant observation at local cultural events, key informant interviews, archival research including historic environmental data and oral history collections, as well as experimental participatory workshops. This research will provide new insights regarding the communication of environmental science to different cultural groups, with implications for improving human health and well-being.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.